How to Remove a Branchial Cleft Cyst

A branchial cleft cyst is a mass that develops beneath the skin on a person's neck near the pharynx and sternocleidomastoid muscle. These cysts are the result of a failure during development of the embryo to remove the branchial cleft, which is a feature in fish that eventually develops into gills ("branchial" is a Greek word that means "gills"). According to Dr. Thanh Nguyen at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, surgical removal of these cysts is necessary because their presence carries a high rate of infection and should be removed as soon as possible in patients over the age of 6 months to adults.

Things You'll Need

• Doctor

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Instructions

• 1

  If you notice a lump on your neck, make an appointment to see your doctor immediately. If you see your primary care provider, he may refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist.

• 2

  Have the lump examined and diagnosed. According to Dr. Nguyen at the Baylor College of Medicine, detecting a branchial cleft cyst is difficult because ultrasounds and CT scans are not effective at differentiating between branchial cleft cysts and cystic metastases. Endoscopy, ipsilateral tonsillectom and blind biopsy are the recommended methods of diagnosis.

• 3

  If you are diagnosed with a branchial cleft cyst, discuss the different surgical options available for removal. Nguyen at Baylor indicates that the most common treatment is complete excision of the branchial cleft cyst or the sinus tract. However, researchers at the Masan Samsung Hospital in Seoul, Korea, have published a study titled "Sclerotherapy of Branchial Cleft Cysts Using OK-432" in which the branchial cleft cyst was treated with non-surgical sclerotherapy using OK-432 (picibanil), which has previously been used to treat ranula and lymphangioma. Over 60 percent of the 23 patients treated with this method showed complete regression, while only one of these did not respond and had to have surgical excision. The researchers concluded that this treatment was safe and effective and should be considered as an option prior to excision.

• 4

  After your surgery, schedule follow-up exams with your doctor.